Crime intelligence boss Lieutenant-General Richard Mdluli made a low-key appearance at the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court on Thursday facing various charges including kidnapping and murder.
“He handed himself over to the court with his lawyer present after 1pm and briefly appeared,” said National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson advocate Mthunzi Mhaga.
This comes after a warrant for his arrest was issued.
Mdluli appeared separately from his two co-accused, court orderly Samuel Dlomo (49) and Warrant Officer Nkosana Ximba (38).
Alleged sabotaging of investigation
The three face charges of intimidation, three counts of kidnapping, two counts of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and defeating and/or obstructing the course of justice.
All the charges relate to an alleged sabotaging of an investigation in 1998/1999 involving a deceased person who had opened an attempted murder case before his death.
At the time, Mdluli was the station commander at Vosloorus police station, in Boksburg, on the East Rand.
“More information will be revealed during court appearances,” said Mhaga.
Newspaper reports on Thursday morning suggested that Mdluli was being investigated for the death of an ex-lover’s husband who was shot dead in February 1999.
The slain husband, Oupa Ramogibe, apparently received death threats after marrying Mdluli’s ex-lover. He was allegedly told to leave her or he would be killed, the report read.
Mhaga said the defeating the ends of justice charge did not only relate to this case but “goes as far as the year 2010”.
The case was postponed to April 7 for further investigation.
The state was expected to oppose bail.
“All three were remanded in custody at police stations that we cannot mention for security reasons,” Mhaga said.
The authority said police were still searching for a fourth person allegedly involved in the offences. – Sapa